Collar-spreader.



L.',C. NEFF.

COLLAR SPREADER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. z. 1915.

Patented J line 11,1918.

Inventor:

Y borough of Brooklyn,

LOUIS C. NEFF, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ooLLAR-srREAnEn.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 11, 1918.,

Application filed April 7, 1915. Serial No. 19,799.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lotus C. N EFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at the in the city, county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collar-Spreaders, of which the following 1s a specification, reference being had therein to the "accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to collar spreaders for giving form to the band of a lay down collar, and more particularly to an imple-' ment adapted for use in so forming the band of a laundried collar as to separate the band and the facesufliciently to allow a free slippage of the neck-tie within the folded collar after the collar has been attached" tothe neck-band of a shirt.

In lay down collars as ordinarily manufactured, the pattern of the face is so laid out as to avoid unnecessary waste of the cloth in making the collar. The result is that in lay down collars, the band and the face set so closely together that when the band is attached to the neck-band of the shirt, a tie disposed between said band and the said face, will bind sufliciently to make a movement of the tie difiicult. This binding of the tie Within the fold of the collar is not only a cause of annoyance, but results in a disarrangement of the collar and frequently in the tearing of the collar at the front corners, or the tearing of the tie itself. By means of an implement made in accordance with my invention, an ordinary lay down collar wherein the band and face are set sufficiently close together to offer substantial resistance to the free movement of the tie, may have theband so constructed at different points thereof as to spread the collar in a manner to increase the space be tween the band and the face to an extent to afford ample clearance for the neck-tie and permit the free movement thereof. This implement is so constructed that it will take up the material of the band in a manner to shorten the band sufliciently to secure the desired spreading eflect without interfering with the flexibility of the band, or breaking down the textile so as to present rough spots or cause the cracking or mutilation of the collar upon its being re-laundried.

Preferably a collar spreader made in accordance with my invention is so constructed as to be readily adapted for hand use, thus enabling the wearer to quickly and conveniently form the band just prior to the attachment of the collar to the neclcband of the shirt. This avoids likelihood of the band losing its form prior to the use of the collar.

The forming of the band of the collar by means of a spreader made in accordance with my invention does not result in any permanent alteration in the collar, the portion of said band formed up by the tool, being restored to its normal relation when the collar is re-laundried. The tool is so constructed as to vary its operative effect upon the band in a manner to cause the greatest reduction in the diameter to be at the lower edge of the band. The cooperating opposed members are so constructed and arranged as to prevent forming of the band to an extent to exceed the necessary construction, and are so constructed and associated as to permit the forming up of the band without binding the material in a way to cause the application of pressure thereto to stretch or tear the fabric. This characteristic is essential to my invention as the constriction of the band results from the movement of the entire band to an extent members upon the closing of said members;

and in such other novel features of construction and combination ofparts as are hereinafter set forth and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended. 1 Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a collar having a plurality of crimps or corrugations formed in the band thereof by an implement :made in accordance with my invention so as to spread the band away from the face ofthe collar; I

Fig. 4c is a cross section of the'jaws closed 7 showing the position of the collar therein; Fig. 5 is a view partly in section'of a modified form of the inventionshowingthe.-

use of parallel jaws; and Fig. 6 1s a perspectiveviewpartly 1nsectionv of a portion of" the jaw construction 7 shown in Fig. 5.

" tending, 3erpendicularly to the edge thereof is disposed jaw extensions d and e Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

A collar spreader made in accordance with.

a, my. invention comprises cooperating members adapted to havethe inserted therebetween to 3 oppositely disposed edge-of theband.

permit the application of pressure to the hand through said;

form a crimp or corrugation in the band exand terminating at a point adjacent the fold connecting it and the face.

tween and to thefabric; incidental tothe formation of said crimp or corrugation.

An implement embodying the characteristics of, my. invention, may take a variety of forms,-two;ofwhich areillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4E, sand 6 indicate leverv handles pivoted ing cooperating members for engaging and forming corrugations in the collar band. [he jaw d, forming an extension of the'lever handle a has an opening 01 :therethrough.

' formed by the parallel sides of the jaw, said jaw (Z about the opening d,

opening extending through the outer end of said jaw. he upper and inneredges of the o are chamfered orrounded as shown at d? and at d I pro. vide bearing surfaces adapted to act as a stop for limiting the operative effect ofthe implement upon the collar band.

1 The jaw e, forming an extension of the lever handle 7) is provided with a projection 6 adapted to enter the opening (1 and'force' the collar bandthereinto; in a manner to givesuch form thereto as to crimp or corthe purpose of shortening the radius fsaid band, when the collar is applied to the neckband of a shirt. 1 The length of this projection coincides with that ofthe. opening d and its top is so rounded, as at e ,-to -prevent the cutt ng of the collar-band when the jaws are closed thereupon. The width of the projection e is sufliciently less than that of 2 is a side elevation ofthepreferred members in amanner to, th n -ti fith j The maleand female portions are so constructed as to H prevent the clamping of the collar therebepermit that free movement of I 1 essential j Lemploy .ment asl ordinarily, employed in pliers, punches andsimilar toolszl at c and hav ng oppositely ,th i v ntion constituttween.

Upon each side of the projection e areshoulders 6 adapted to engage the bearing surfaces (Z upon the jaw 03.

' The said shoulders and bearings adjacent the. pivot Q,are,.s0 spaced apart as to avoid any shearing action thereby and to cause the stop action toresultionly uponthecompleotion. ofthe, closing of the aws.

JOneof, said aw as d is provided with a gage; shoulder ffoli limiting theextent; to ;which the collar band may ,be, projected ,within said jaw.

, Inasmuchas it. is desirable toconstrict the free edgeolf; the-band to agreater; extent thanjthe upper rportion thereof I; so .construct the cooperating members. as to. cause more; deeply ,crimpor ,corr-ugate the band thanthose portions operative farther away from, said ledges In; the fOr11l-Of'; the,.-in- .vention shownvv in. the drawings, 1 secure this result by forming the. projection e" of a gradually ,increased 1 height g.toward; the

pivot c.

In the form of the,inventionshown in Figs. 5 and (i the -.construction issubstant'iallylike that, shown inFigs. 2 to awith the .exception that :;-,instead of,-using a .tongs construction of.v the leverphandleszand jaws, an ordinary parallel j aw -;move

;the forward end-of. said jaw and is rounded I at K the; bottom thereof.

The jaw in is provided with a projection It graduated in; height and I. formed .in the same manner as the projection e,- in theform of the invention shownwin Figs. 2 and 4E.

- Thetroughed opening g varieg in depth in accordance with the variance in height of the projection k Theedges -of thejaw 9 about the trough g are chamfered,orrounded, as shown at g? and have stop-bearings g presented toward the'jaw h.

The jaw isr -provided witlrthe shoulders -]l' -'1l-P0Il- Opposite. sides of theprojection k adjacent .theedge to @lnrthis form of adapted to cooperate with the stop bearings 9 One of said jaws as h is provided with a gage i for preventing the collar being inserted between the projecting ends of the lever handles a and b.

The dimensions of the projection 71. and of the trough g are so proportioned as to afiord clearance between the walls of said a line toward the point of connection with the face. This forms acrimp or corrugation in the band of gradually decreasing depth toward the point of connection with the face of the collar. Enough pressure is exerted upon the band by these members to give a sufliciently firm set thereto to insure the formation of the crimp, without, however, imparting any stretch to the fabric of the band or cracking or mutilating it in any way.

The apex of the crimp or corrugation shouldbe presented inwardly of the band so that the fabric entering into said crimp, or corrugation, will not occupy any portion of the space inwhich the neck-tie must move. The

crimps or corrugations thus formed do not give a permanent set to the band and when the collar is re-laundried the band will again become perfectly flat and of substantially the same length as though the implement had not been used thereon.

The number and location of the crimps or corrugations placed in the collar will vary according to the requirements of different collars. The effect of these corrugations is to shorten the radius of the band from the edge thereof to a point sufliciently close to the line of its attachment to the face, to insure ample clearance for the tie. At the same time if the number of crimps taken in j the band he sufliciently great to shorten the band to an extent too great to permit its convenient application to the shirt-band, the band, nevertheless, will possess suflicient flexibility to give sufficiently to permit the collar to be conveniently buttoned upon the front collar button. The increased depth of the crimp or corrugation along the line of the collar buttons will permit this extension of the band without materially reducingthe clearance at the point of the collar Where the tie is located.

The constriction of the band adjacent the edge thereof will have the effect of spreading the band and the face away from each other and yet when the collar is on, the presence of these crimps or corrugatlons will not in any way change the set of the collar.

In the forms of the invention shown the male" jaw is inserted between the band and the face at the desired points and the jaws are closed upon the collar until the stop bearing and shoulder cooperate, through the fabric of the collar, in a manner to arrest further movement of the jaws. The formation of the opening and the cooperating projection adapted to enter same is such that as the jaws are closed, the band will be drawn therebetween thus preventing the stretching of the fabric and causing the gathering or taking up of the material of the band in a manner to secure the desired shortening eflect thereupon.

The gage is merely for limiting the extent to which the collar may be projected between the jaws.

The graduated height of the projection. 1 causes that'desired greater depth at the edge of the band.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2, clearance between the bearing faces and shoulders prevents the clamping of the collar before the maximum crimp has been made therein.

I believe it to be broadly new to provide a mechanism whereby the band of a collar may be shortened in a manner to prevent the binding of the tie between the band and the face, said shortening involving no distortion or mutilation of the collar and I intend to claim such broadly.

The construction and arrangement of the cooperating members may be varied indefinitely, the two forms of hand tools being shownin the accompanying drawings, not as defining the limits as to the form which this tool may take, but for illustrating two forgis of the tool which maybe conveniently use It is not my intention to limit the invention to the two forms shown, however.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent is 1. A collar spreader consisting of oppositely disposed cooperating members, one of said members having an opening therein, and the other of said members having a projection adapted to enter said opening, the width of said opening being greater than that of said member adapted to enter same whereby the fabric of the collar band is permitted to slide between said members as said projection enters said opening;

2. A collar spreader consisting of oppo-'125 sitely disposed cooperating members, one of said members having an elongated opening therein, and the other of' said members having a projection of gradually increased enter said opening, the width of said open ing being greater than that of said member adapted to enter the same whereby the fabric of the collar band is, permitted to slide between said members as said projection enters said opening.

, 3. A collar spreader consisting of oppositely disposed coiiperating members, one of said members having an opening therein, and the other of said members having a projection adapted to enter said opening, the

tent of penetration of said projection'into. .20

width ofsaid openingbeing greater than thatof said member adapted to. enter same whereby the fabric of the collar band is permitted to slide between said members as said projection enters said opening, said mem bers. being provided with oppositely disposed surfaces and. adapted to limit the ex said opening.

4:. A collar spreader consisting of oppositely disposed cooperating members, one of said members having an elongated opening I opening,

therein and bearing surfaces upon opposite sides thereof and the other of said members having a'projection of gradually increased height towardone end thereof adaptedto enter said openin and stop shoulders upon opposite sides of said projection adapted to engage said bearing surfaces upon the other, member and limit the extent of penetration of said projection into said the width of said opening being greaterthan that of said member adapted to enter the same whereby the fabric of the collar band is permitted to slide between said members as said projectlon enters said opening.

- 5. A collar spreader consisting of oppositely disposed cotiperating members, one of 1., said members having an elongatedopening therein, and the other of said membershav- 1 ing.

- adapted to a projection of gradually increased height toward one end thereof adapted to enter'said opening, the width of said opening being greater than that of said :member enter the same and the edges of said openin and the top of said projection being rounded whereby the fabric of the collar band is permitted to slide between said members as said projectionenters said opening.

6. A collar, spreader-consisting of oppositely disposed cooperating-members, one of said members having an elongated opening therein and bearing surfaces upon opposite sides thereof and the other of said members having a projection of gradually increased height toward one endthereof. adapted to enter said openingfand stop shoulders upon opposite sides of said projection adapted to engage said bearing surfaces upon the other member 1 and limit the extent of penetration of said projection into said opening, the

width of said opening being greater than 1 being rounded that of said member adapted toenter the same and the edges of said opening and the top of said projection being rounded whereby the fabric of the collar band is permitted to slide between said members as said pro: jection enters said opening.

7. A collar spreader consisting of oppo sitely disposed cooperating members, one of said members having an opening therein and bearing surfaces upon opposite sides thereof,. and the other of said members having a projection adapted to enter said opening and stop shoulders upon opposite sides of said projection adapted to. engage said bearing surfaces jection into said opening,- the width of said opening being greater than that of said member adapted to enter same whereby the fabric of the collar band is permitted to slide between said members as said projection enters said opening, said members being provided with oppositely disposed surfaces adapted to limit theextent of penetration of said projection into said opening. j 8. A collar spreader consisting'of oppositely disposed cooperating members, one of said members having an elongated opening therein and bearing surfaces upon. opposite sides thereof and the other of; saidmem; bers having a projection of gradually in opening, said membersbeing provided with oppositely disposed surfaces adapted to limit the extent of penetration of said projection into said opening.

9. A collar spreader consistingvof oppositely disposed jaws, pivotally connected,

lever handles adapted to open and close said jaws, one of said jaws having an opening therein with bearing surfaces upon opposite sides of said opening, and the other of said jaws having a projection thereon adapted to enter said opening and stop shoulders adapted to engage said bearing surfaces whereby the extent of penetration of said projection into said opening is limited, the

width of said projection being less than that.

of said opening whereby the fabric of the band of a collar is permitted to slide beupon the other member and limit the extent of penetration of said pro-" tween said jaws while they are being closed to prevent the breaking or stretching of said fabric,

10. A collar spreader consisting of oppositely disposed jaws, pivotally connected lever handles adapted to open and close said jaws, one of said jaws having an opening therein with bearing surfaces upon opposite 'sides of said opening, and the other of said jaws having a projection of gradually increasing height toward the point of pivotal connection of said handles adapted to enter said opening and stop shoulders adapted to engage said bearing surfaces whereby the extent of penetration of said projection into said opening is limited the width of said projection being less than that of said opening whereby the fabric of the band of a collar is permitted to slide between said jaws while they are being closed to prevent the breaking or stretching of said fabric.

11. A collar spreader consisting of oppositely disposed jaws, pivotally connected lever handles adapted to open and close said jaws, one of said jaws having an opening therein with bearing surfaces upon opposite sides of said opening, and the other of said jaws having a projection thereon adapted to enter said opening and stop shoulders adapted to engage said bearing surfaces whereby the extent of penetration of said projection into said opening is limited, the width of said projection being less than that of said opening whereby the fabric of the band of a collar is permitted to slide between said jaws while they are being closed to prevent the breaking or stretching of said fabric and a stop gage for accurately positioning the collar band with relation to 1 pivotal connection.

said jaws and the pivotal connection of said members.

12. A collar spreader consisting of pivotally connected lever handles, a jaw carried by each of said handles and projecting beyond the point of pivotal connection thereof, one of said jaws having parallel side bars spaced apart, leaving an opening therebetween and forming bearing surfaces presented toward the other jaw, the inner edges of said bars being rounded, and the other of said jaws having a projection of gradually increasing height toward said point of pivotal connection of said handles, and shoulders adapted to cooperate with said bearing surfaces upon said other jaw, said projection be ng adapted to enter the opening between said jaws and being of a width less than the distance between the side bars of the other jaw whereby the fabric of a collar is permitted to slide between said jaws as they are being closed and breaking or tearing of the fabric is prevented, said shoulders and said bearing surfaces being spaced apart adjacent the point of pivotal connection of said levers whereby shearing action upon said fabric is prevented, and a gage stop carried by one of said jaws adjacent said point of In witness whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses this 6th day of April, 1915.

LOUIS O. N EFF. Witnesses:

JUDITH PARDEE, CnARIon FRANCE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

